Chapter 5

Network Layer

Network Layer 4-1

Network layer
• transport segment from application
transport
sending to receiving host network
data link
physical
• on sending side encapsulates network network
data link
segments into datagrams
data link
network physical
physical
data link
physical network
• on rcving side, delivers
network
data link data link
physical physical
segments to transport layer
network network
• network layer protocols in data link
physical
data link
physical
every host, router
network
data link
physical

• router examines header

application
network transport
network
fields in all IP datagrams
data link network
physical data link
network data link
physical
passing through it data link
physical
physical

Network Layer 4-2

Two Key Network-Layer Functions
• forwarding: move packets analogy:
from router’s input to
appropriate router output  routing: process of
planning trip from source
• routing: determine route
to dest
taken by packets from
source to dest.  forwarding: process of
• routing algorithms getting through single
interchange

Network Layer 4-3

Store-and-Forward Packet Switching
ISP’s equipment

The environment of the network layer protocols.

Services Provided to the Transport Layer

1.Services independent of router technology.

2.Transport layer shielded from number, type,
topology of routers.
3.Network addresses available to transport layer use
uniform numbering plan
• even across LANs and WANs
DATAGRAM NETWORKS – IMPLEMENTATION OF CONNECTION-LESS SERVICE

•In data communications, we need to send messages

from one end system to another.
•If the message is going to pass through a packet-
switched network, it needs to be divided into packets of
fixed or variable size.
•The size of the packet is determined by the network and
the governing protocol.
 Note

In a packet-switched network, there

is no resource reservation;
resources are allocated on demand.

8.7
Figure A datagram network with four switches (routers)

8.8
Routing table in a datagram network

8.9
 Note
The destination address in the header of a packet in a datagram network
remains the same during the entire journey of the packet.

8.10
Figure Delay in a datagram network

8.11
VIRTUAL-CIRCUIT NETWORKS IMPLEMENTATION
OF CONNECTION OREIENTED SERVICE

A virtual-circuit network is a cross between a circuit-

switched network and a datagram network. It has some
characteristics of both.

8.12
Figure Virtual-circuit network

8.13
Figure Virtual-circuit identifier

8.14
Figure Switch and tables in a virtual-circuit network

8.15
Figure Source-to-destination data transfer in a virtual-circuit network

8.16
Figure Setup request in a virtual-circuit network

8.17
Figure Setup acknowledgment in a virtual-circuit network

8.18
 Virtual-circuit packet switching
1. Solid line: A--1--3—6--B with local VCIs 1,2,7,8
2. Dotted line: A …1…3…4 …5… D with local VCIs 5,3,4,5,2
3. Dashed line: C --- 2--- 4--- 3--- 6 B with local VCIs
6,3,2,1,5
ROUTING TABLES
 Note

In virtual-circuit switching, all packets belonging to the same source

and
destination travel the same path;
but the packets may arrive at the destination with different delays
if resource allocation is on demand.

8.21
 Virtual-circuit packet switching
1. Solid line: A--1--3—6--B with local VCIs 1,2,7,8
2. Dotted line: A …1…3…4 …5… D with local VCIs 5,3,4,5,2
3. Dashed line: C --- 2--- 4--- 3--- 6 B with local VCIs
6,3,2,1,5
ROUTING TABLES
 Note

In virtual-circuit switching, all packets belonging to the same source

and
destination travel the same path;
but the packets may arrive at the destination with different delays
if resource allocation is on demand.

8.24
Figure Taxonomy of switched networks

8.26